After the National Anthems and a political speech, the 2007 UAW Bargaining Convention Rules Committee presented the rules for the Convention.
Like the rest of those gathered inside Cobo Hall, we assumed ratification of The Rules would be a formality, so we changed videotapes . . . just as Mike Parker rose with a point of order to make.
Parker proposed the following amendment to the rules for the 2007 Bargaining Convention:
“The agenda for the Wednesday morning session will be Organizing to Fight Back. This session will cover how we can mobilize our members, build solidarity, resist company whipsawing and divisive strategies like Two Tier and pitting older workers against younger workers. To make time for this session, short presentation summaries will be used instead of reading the complete resolution book and guest speakers will be asked to keep their comments brief . . ."
As UAW member and Soldier of Solidarity Gregg Shotwell, who was covering the convention for The Uncommon Sense newspaper put it:
"Mike Parker, a delegate from Local 1700, busted the seams of uniform decorum before Gettelfinger could pound the podium."